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The Maureen was one of a kind. A 'Technomara Gravity Structure', the deck was built in the Howard Doris Kishorn yard in Scotland. The 3 tanks on the jacket could be ballasted so that the entire structure could float. After the mating of deck and jacket in Loch Kishorn, the structure was towed out to the Maureen field and ballast pumped into the tanks to increase it's weight and allow it to settle on the sea bed.

Some 18 years later, with the field exhausted, in an operation no-one was certain would succeed, the tanks were de-ballasted and the 112,000 ton platform floated once again.

I worked on the hook-up in Loch Kishorn, and then many years later for a couple of weeks in the North Sea. All involved received a 'medal' from Howard Doris and Phillips - I think I still have mine somewhere.

Hi also worked on the deck in Kishorn and previous to that on the jacket at Hunterston for nearly 3 yrs. One of the boys that came up with me from Hunterston worked on the hook up 3 months constant without a day off (Phil Devlin). Where is the rig now?

Added by Charlie McCormick on 20 May 2007.

Maureen was refloated in 2001 and taken with the tanker mooring bouy to Aker Stord in Norway for scrapping. The refloat was remarkable as all the original Ballast control room and lines etc had been ripped out years before as space was at a premium. It was refloated at a rate of 1" per hour after several hours work to break free of the mud.

The rig was then "recycled" to a remarkable 99.7% of the circa 110,000 tonnes. It caused a little disharmony at Stord until they washed off the marine growth, which stank, and ran power cables out from the beach. The noise of the gas turbines in the Fjord reverberated around and around to the annoyance of the locals.

Phillips had a website for selling her, but no viable option was found - a little before ebay I suppose - hence she was scrapped.

Added by Smee on 29 June 2007.

Hi My Dad worked in Kishorn during the 80's and I wondered if anyone remembered him - Jim Spencer

Hi there all you old commandos. I worked on the legs for the maureen in Hunterston, West Kilbride then up to do the cement barge with a squad of guys from the legs. Can't remember all the names but there was big Willie from Stewarton, Hugh McWaters, John Mcmenemy & Martin Polonis from Ayrshire, John Cairns & Phil ? from Greenock and myself Aly Bird. Sorry I cant remember you all but it was a long time ago. I remember the medals and also when Prince Charles came up to launch the platform. Most of us stayed on to work for Howard Doris on the platform then on a gas rig for the Morcambe Bay. I was one of the last to go before they got another rig to build. Went back up for a week or so with MOS with wee Jimmy the Squeek and Joe ? By then my wife was pregnent so was not keen on me being away so sadly opted for a job in town. I've got some photos of the platform somewhere, I'll try and dig them out. What did Jim Spencer work as? Charlie, your name rings a bell as does Phil Devlin, trying to put a face to the names.

Yes Ally the Phill you are thinking of was Phill Devlin. I was the wee guy from Port Glasgow and Bernie Mcdade was the other guy who came up. Phill was the guy who worked 3 months steady then got sacked his 1st week on shore again for being in the toilet too long.Remember your big gold granada was it?

Hi Ally stopped the travelling 8yrs ago now and dont realy miss it i am now working in mod repair base easy going job not bothered by gaffers or anythinghad a cpl of off site jobs with them but its optional and if you dont like it you can come home.You also get put up in the best hotels and everything is paid incl drink plus £29 a night and £57 a night overseas well i was in germany for 7 weeks and got a good lift for that didnt mean to go on as longcatch you later charlie

My Dad, I think worked as a forman (fitter), would have been in his early 60's, was Irish and lived in Nottinghamshire. One of his friends was Billie McCrea (if I have spelt it correctly) who lived in Kishorn. Merry Christmas

Added by Julie Spencer on 24 December 2007.

Aly Bird you lied about your age when you started with Howard Doris Kishorn it was my dad that told you to.

Hi Martin, Yeah still lying about it yet, (just turned 40 ha ha) How are you? Hi Julie, sorry but just can't place your dad, there were so many of us at the time. Hi Charlie, good to hear you are doing ok, I'm working in the aerospace industry now, been off the tools for about 10 years, miss it like hell (not). Getting soft in my old days. All the best to you all.

Hi, came across this site .. its amazing what you can find . My name is Derek Anderson ( Deeks ) from Falkirk . I worked on the Maureen as a Plater ( for Fergus Haynes ) . I was a raw arsed laddie, then .. 1982 - 83 and treated the job as a second apprenticeship, definetly in life anyway . Stayed on the camp and remember mad nights in the welly bar, down the village and weekends at the Fort ( William ) . Crazy days . Cant recall any names from above as there was so many there . I had a nasty accident on the way home one Saturday < remember we used to work until 4pm then it was the whacky races to get down the road ( 4hrs ) all for to leave late Sunday, early Monday to get back for early start ----- MAD !! The accident happened at Spean Bridge and myself and John Daly ( Plater, Glasgow ) were lucky but I think the whacky races claimed a few incidents . I remember the buses that left the site, 1 for Stirling, the other Glasgow ..pick up at Sandy Dows pub if i remember . Can anyone remember that big mad Dutchman gaffer with the silver helmet, was it Koomans or something -- mad . Now working ( 48 ) in the process game, control room, and when I hear them whinging about it being too warm or to chilly or pishy wee things like that, I look back to going down to the Maureen from the camp, 07.00, middle of Jan, freezing and I think to myself ..................All the best to anyone who experienced Kishorn.

Willy Kooymans is long departed as is the "Fog"-John Fogarty, Jackie Borland as well as probably loads of others from that era, Andy Sheedy- how are you doing these days- I still come across Gary borland from time to time and occasionally others who are still in the same industry, it wasn't everyones cup of tea but I enjoyed my time there.

Hello to anyone who remembers my late husband Tommy Birrell, he had his first heart attack while working on the Maureen. I didn't notice anyone having the medal given by Prince Charles dated 1983, I still have Tommy's to pass on to his Great grandson.

Hi, I work on the Judy platform for Conocophillips, most of my fellow (older)work mates all worked on the Maureen, since it was a Phillips platform at the time. what great stories they tell of the place and how much the oil industry has changed nowadays.!!

Hi everyone, My names Chris Bell and I worked on the Maureen as a welder during construction at Kishorn for S P E L, Seagull & NE pipework (anyone remember the foodfight?) then offshore on 'hook up' with Grootcon and finally on the maintenance crew offshore for AMOD, just came across this site while browsing, would be nice to hear from anyone that might remember me as I came across so many characters during those crazy times!

A friend of mine, Ken Townshend of Greenwich, was involved in the design of the deballasting system for Maureen's removal. Ken died this year of a heart attack, he had a pacemeker fitted some years ago and then had a stroke. He was one of the characters that make the offshore work so much fun. He is sadly missed.

Hi Derek probably do know you as I was there at the same time - I was also in no less than 3 crashes at the weekends (don't think many weren't) and you were nearly right about the pub it was Sammy Dows. I still go into it now and again when I am in Glasgow, as for the bus anyone remember Geordie Richardson plater going down the rd for the Xmas hols with kerry oots. Geordie went to the toilet and when the bus went round a bend he went out the window middle of nowhere on a snow covered Rannoch Moor - all the guys were queueing up banging the door waiting for a pee, didn't know he was lying in a ditch miles back till some van driver saw him. I remember the food fight too. As for the blackhats the fog and bachelor etc I went into Scott/Lithgow as a subbie and a lot of them ended up there too to plague us. They were good days for a young man but don't think I would do it now. By the way Deeks I am staying in Cowie now and go to Falkirk now and again for a drink.

Added by Name not supplied on 09 November 2008.

Love the banter lads, my father was a crane driver on the Ninian Central job still love the stories he comes out with when he has a few to many shandies. The Welly boot bar, the Irish lads moving there families in to the portacabins over the Christmas holidays so they wont miss out on the overtime ha!ha! Always talks about the poor sod flying out the window on the bus think the whole yard talked about it for ages. And the crashes, remember him writing off his green Saab on a that bad bend in Garve, lucky to be alive, mind my mother climbing the walls until he got home.

Man thats crazy, it was only tonight that I was telling that story of Geordie going thru the bus window!! Was so funny at the time, sure it was in the Daily Record or something. Took the wife and kids up to Applecross last year, so strange seeing the hillside without the camp !! PS , I work in Cowie and live in Falkirk !!!!

Hi guy's, Great to hear all the patter and trying to put faces to names, I remember the big fella who went oot the windae, whit a laugh that caused, I was on the same squad as wee squeek (jimmy), Joe, Big Willie, Jimmy 2 rods who now works in the same place as myself (aerospace would you believe). Got a couple of photos somewhere and will try and post them sometime, I remember big Koymans who had a thing about hard hats and would stand at the bottom of the stairs and the skylift and try and catch us coming off early. Do any of you remember the guy who worked for perssonel dept' he was a right git. The welly bar nights were great till you had to do a 8 hour shift on the Saturday then drive 4 hours home. I drove a black 3 litre S Capri and it was like wacky races, would end up in jail if we drove at those speeds now. I remember scudding a deer one night coming up through Glencoe. Made a right mess of the bonnet, got all sorts of shit from the guy's, (the deer hunter, O' Dear and that was a deer bump) no sympathy. Great time when you look back but it was a tough life actually being there compared to what I do now. Keep them coming and all the best.

Jimmy 2 rods, yes, remember him well, Aerospace, he will have 2 burn more than 2 rods there !!!!! Quality. That dude u are talking about in personnel dept sticks well in my mind but can't remember his name. Was it him that used to stand in the lavvies with a stop watch timing the traps !!!!

What a suprise finding this site, I worked at Kishorn from 1979 until we locked the gate in 1984, my name is Jim Bolder (welder), it's like going back in time just briliant.

My big mate at the time was Jim Mcfarland (welder) we were known as the two Jim's, we both went to the cameroons (the first adventure). If I remember rightly we used to play football after the "Welly bar caberet" finished on a Friday night then down to the villiage on a Saturday night, I think the hotel was called "the Strathcarron". The last time i heard from or saw anyone really was on the train from Inverness to Edinburgh after the site closed down the day before. One of the welding gaffers was Jimmy Small, well will be good to hear from some of those from the "good times".At present I am working in the Middle East in the oil fields.

Hi folks, good to hear from you all, Jim I think I remember you and JM, were you guy's from 'south of the border'? and did JM drive a Nissan sports car? Yeah the Strathcarron, what a place, I remember we went for a drink one night and when we left the pub it was a total whiteout. Had to stay in some managers lodge in the village. Good times.

Added by Aly Bird on 18 June 2009.

Hello Aly,Yeah mate that was us, i had the black Nissan sports car and came from down the south east, Jim Mcfarlane came from Falkirk, as you say good days, so much good crack on the job, just takes you back when you see names from the distant past.

Hello all. I worked at Kishorn from 1975 to 1988, in the marine department. Jan Uitterhoeve, I remember you well, weren't you in materials control? Julie, I remember your dad Jim very well, a genial friendly Irishman who'd lived in England for years but never lost his accent. A real top bloke, he was plant (workshop) foreman who worked mainly on big stuff like cranes etc - he was always up for a crack!

HI! I don't know where to start. I started in Kishorn in 1979 until it shut in 1986. Yes I remember Jimmy Spencer he was just as Neil described. Just after I started I had to take the landrover to plant for repair. The first person I asked was Jimmy who was working on a big 28 ton Heathfield. "Oh" he said "you need the Mickey Mouse squad for that". Well I got my head bitten off when I asked the other Duncan Spencer where the Mickey Mouse squad was.

Billy Macrae from Kishorn is still alive and kicking. I was the foreman that started the dolphin piles for the Maureen and know most of the names on here. I trained up Roy Williams and Garry Borland who's father was the safety officer and George Richardson was his journeyman plater. Andrew Sheedy I remember you and your father well.

Fergus Haynes that was the company name on the Ninian Central Contract. On the Maureen it was Seagull Offshore. The agent was Mick Boyle who when Kishorn shut moved down to Peterborough and set up MPB Structures building multi story buildings. I was working for them on the Glasgow Science Centre where Kenny Rainey was his Scottish Director. He has now passed on the reins to his son.

Jan Uitterhoeve I remember you well you issued the materials to the profile shop and shop 19 which I ran. I have the two medalions that were issued at the launch ceremoney of the Maureen. One for me and the other for my daughter who was there with the school. The dry dock was used later to build the caissons for the Skye Bridge for which my daughter did the inaugural pour and had a leg named after her.

A lot of you will remember Donny Taylor the last I met him he was working at the BP Dopot at Finnart Pier in Loch Long. Big Maggie is now married and has now moved back to Lewis. I met her at Raymond and Maureen Browns (Stan Brown Kishorn Garage's son) house this summer. Ruaraidh Ferguson plant (mother owned Lochcarron Hotel) has set up a marine engineering workshop at the site main gate.

I'll have to go now but if anyone needs further information I'll try to help. Lisa at its peak there were over 3,000 men with a high turnover - what did your father do and when, that may jog my memory or others. You can ask him if he remembers Ian Maclean Plating/ Profile Foreman Shop 19.

Try www.oilrig.eu.org The Hunterston Oilrig Story Waiting for them to update the information on the crane barge. Tog Mor floating crane barge. Can anyone confirm if this is at Loch Kishorn or in Norway? No its not Kishorn.

Hi, I am Gordon and created the site about Maureen (www.oilrig.eu.org). I am looking for people who used to work on the construction but also at the operational rig when in the North Sea who are willing to share their stories. I will soon have a page where stories can be left but in meantime if you could email me what you have by visiting the link above.

I am also seeking any images of the construction at Hunterston, the floating of the base up the Clyde, the construction of the top deck which I have totally failed to get anything on, and the mating of the top deck.

As Howard Doris no longer exists there is no one to contact and no one knows where the archives of that company went.

I would be grateful for any contribution you can send. If you have any images please send the largest possible and non-watermarked, any pdf documents. If you have negatives or don't own a scanner please let me know as I can scan/copy them for you and return them.

Hi to you all ... I remember a few names on here but as a young boy of 22/23 when I was up there one or two things slip my memory.

I worked with a young lad called Jimmy Cullion from Glasgow and we were looked after big style by Neil McCrae our plating foreman also from Glasgow ... the nights in the welly bar were great and the nights in the village were even better.. living on the camp wasn't too bad as long as you liked waiting in a queue ... and that was for everything; meals, drinks, phone booths (there was only 6 as I remember), the shop, the bank, the gym, the snooker need I go on ... but still we wouldn't have missed it for the world there was such a feeling of comradeship and every now and again you will meet someone who once worked there.

Great to see this forum...I was a "big daft boy" when I landed at Kishorn and left 2 years later as a "mad commando" when the Maureen floated away. I have dined out free on the stories I've told over the years of the antics,wind ups and downright outrageous behaviour of men (sober and drunk)who were working and living in difficult conditions. I hadn't worked in this "game" before and haven't since....but what a friggin experience.Some of the memories may have been embellished over time but who cares.

Someone mentioned Kooyman earlier...my favourite on him...If you remember there were a couple of raised crane landing areas on the main deck..well.. As usual when he appeared on deck everyone scattered but he spots a guy leaning over the railing, of one of the areas, staring out over the loch. He marches up the stairs to pull the guy (everyone is keekin roon corners) and as he taps the guy on the shoulder realises it's an orange overall with hard hat and boots stuffed paper. Rig erupts...priceless!!

The name is Tam( Tommy ) Whitelaw ,a bad spark,...love to here some craic.

Hi Boys just come across this page. I'm the other Jim of the 2 Jims- Jim McFarlane - Red Opel Manta. Also known as the Deer Hunter for obvious reasons and many visits to Stan's Garage!! Worked at Kishorn on the Maureen and finished on the Buchan Alpha. Good to see so many names I recognise. Remember well the 1st adventure to Cameroon that Jim Bolder mentions but what about the 2nd one to Benin, Jim? Some made it some didn't!!! Still sound in the airport hotel and everyone thinking everybody was on the other bus!!! Other people I remember Colin Black - welder, Mike Sims (Taffy), Alex Kerr. Worked all over but now settled on a local job.

Yes, my dad worked for Lloyd Morris, he had a lot of friends in Kishorn and Lochcarron. I'm trying to get a nice picture of either the rig or of Lochcarron for his Christmas pressie, can you help?

Added by Rona on 22 November 2009.

Hello Jim,Never thought i would hear from you old mate, lost contact years ago. Yeah you are right, I did stay in my bed and not catch the Benin flight. Too much partying the night before - I remember but suffered when I returned to Kishorn - all good crack though. I am in the Middle East at the moment. Do you remember Jimmy Small, Stevie Sleep, Gerry Floyd and the 2 from Edinburgh, Ian Daffney and Archie Bucanhan? Good times those day's, nice to know you are still alive and kicking Jim.

Added by Jim Bolder on 23 November 2009.

I worked for Fergie Haynes then MBP. Some real blasts from the past mentioned on here. The ones I always remember for mad antics were the scaffolders.

Hi Guys, I am looking for any info on my dad, Sandy (Alex) Morrison, worked in the stores (I think) in Kishorn from the start of the Ninian Central and then sailed and worked on it for 10-12 years Offshore. He was from Lewis originally but when working on the rig was living in Inverness. Any crack, info or old pictures would be great. I love reading the stories posted as many remind me of what Dad used to say!!Thanks.

How's it all going boys, does anyone remember the weekend trips to Aviemore and Inverness..... a few wild times were had then, what about Charlie Parker (Scaff) standing on the canteen table singing "you are my sunshine". Madness those days but just great.

Added by Jim Bolder on 21 April 2010.

Does anyone remeber my dad, Alex Thompson, we lived in Inverness he worked as a fitter/mechanic from the 70s until the yard finally closed, he then took over Stan Brown's place, with John Mckenna in Kishorn and Started West-r-Weld making creels. Sadly dad died in 1992 but reading your stories on here reminds me of the stories he would tell and of all the characters, happy memories.

Hi my name is Ray Ritchie and I worked on the Maureen, 1988-1995 for Rigblast (Aqua Dyne). I remember Chris Bell - hope you are well. Remember Brian Hale the gaffer. We still keep in touch, and Dougie Skea he was a charachtar. Merv the medic, Frankie also a medic.

Hi Ray, I remember you and Brian, Dougie And his brother Kenny, Peter Peel, Jimmy Parker, Alan Holmes, my back to back Dave Berry, King Mong and many more, please pass my regards on to Brian and his clan, nice to hear from you mate.

Yes i made a mistake on the medic bit but it was a long time ago. Safety officer. The Quo man - what a guy - lost touch with him but I still have the pic out of the Sun paper with him and Parfitt as I was and still am a Quo fan and had some stick over the years but I dont care. I still see Brian the bingo man Hale from time to time.

Added by Raymond Ritchie on 12 June 2010.

Hi Chris, what are you up to nowadays? You still welding. I am still working offshore and am still sick of it but have to do something. I will pass a message onto Brian Hale the next time i see him. Kenny was his brother in law. And there was Dougie Skea who wasnt any relation to Kenny. Kenny is in Kazakhstan working for the same company as myself as we got made redundant from Rigblast in 1995-96

Added by Raymond Ritchie on 14 June 2010.

I ended up as one of the registered OIMs. During the construction work for the refloat I suffered a heart attack which ended my offshore work.I haven't kept in touch with any of the old crew, Bill Grainger, Ian Peacock, Ron Cuthbert but occasionally email Roy Bowlerwell, (Inspection Dept) Give Brian my regards next time you see him.

Will be in touch with Brian next time home He is still on the Judy. Probably put the lights out on that one too.I heard you had a heart attack. Not so good. I will tell him I have heard from you take care an keep putting in a comment or two.

Never had a job before or since that I have remembered with such good memories, definitely the best job I ever had. I don't mean money wise, although it was O.K, it was the people, the area, where now could you get a job surrounded by the beauty of the Highlands? I still go regularly up to Oban, Mull and Skye. It's good to hear the stories from some of the people that were there, we had some crazy nights in the welly bar and the shithouse caberet afterwards, nobody had mortgages hanging around there necks in those day's and just enjoyed themselves. I remember the two Jims (welders), do you remember me, Kevin Monaghan? I used to drink a lot with Jimmy Small, Colin Black, and remember wee Rab (the Ranter). I haven't seen many lads from Kishorn over the years, just one or two.

I remember the night, mentioned previously, down in Lochcarron when the police came into the pubs to tell us there was a blizzard on the way and we should make our way back to Kishorn, i had the welder Jim Scott and the black West Indian welder, can't remember his name just now, in the car, and I think we were the last ones to make it back to Kishorn that night, never seen a whiteout like it.

Anyone remember Billy one punch, who knocked out 3 blokes (painters i think) in the toilets after the Friday night caberet? I think they all had their rooms withdrawn, and that was the end of them.

Keep the stories coming fellow Commando's, nice to read them. I have some photo's will have to dig them out.

l found this site by chance. Nice to hear all the wonderful stories of days gone by. I would like to mention 1980 to 1983 when I at was at Kishorn. I was just a boy 20yrs old. I was a Pipefitter with Murray Pipework, I was working in Shop 17 (The Cuni Shop). Remember flash the welder that worked in shop no 6. Remember Podgie the welder, Sherbet Dab the pipefitter Sadley has gone). I remember the Friday night Sh--- Hoose cabaret as we used to call it. Well that's about it too many things to mention, still working offshore at present time, but not for long. will be retiring shortly.

Does anyone remember (buckets of blood) he was a Scaffolder named Ronnie from Glasgow, but stayed in Fort William. Ronnie was a great guy, and could tell a tail or too. Always liked a good Swally like the rest of us.

Hi All - I've decided to start a new site focussed on the yards the rigs were built in rather than the rigs themselves. Have a look at www.scottishrigyards.com. If any of you have photos of your time at Kishorn you'd like to share, I'd really appreciate it.

I worked alongside Merv the Safety for eight years on Maureen and very happy years they were, like a second childhood. Like Mervyn, my offshore life was finished by a heart attack in December 89 but I'm still alive and kicking and enjoying life. Good luck to you all.

I worked at Kishorn as a pipefitter 21 for Howard Doris - what a laugh remember the fog, bach, the dutchman. I worked in fab shops with Bolands lad, some safety officer.also on all the decks I used to hang out with Ossy Richards, Wrexham, Archie Maguire, Glasgow, Steve Loftus, Manchester, Mally Galvin, Rigger, Rocky Rockwell, Newcastle.

did anyone marry Big Maggie? jhave got some photos, have you still got your medal? Do you remember going on strike in support of the nurses? We all got kicked of the camp by that lovely chap Alastair Mac and all ended up in Inverness. What a party! I still talk about the Wellie bar, Shit House choir, the five a side free-for-all, the cinema wHere they showed the raising of the Titanic. Ironic really, we're building oilrigs they're showing movies of ships sinking, If any one knows wHere any of the lads mentioned are email me please.

Ossy Richards still lives in Brymbo, Wrexham, I don't see him but Big Mike does, I could get a message to him, I'm Ron Fisher's daughter, he was a spark.

Added by Rona x on 30 August 2010.

Hi everyone, just to let you know I have been sent some old personnel photographs of staff that worked on Maureen. They have been added to my website and can be accessed on link below.If anyone else worked on Maureen and would like to submit their photo or have any maureen related images then please get in touch

Hi Jim Bolder it's Steve Sleep here. Hope you are keeping well and still making yourself look pretty. I work as a welding instructor now for TWI (The Welding Institute) and have put on loads of weight since we worked together. My mates reckon I've been on a diet of pillows and hence have given me the name of "Sleepy the Buffet Slayer".We had some great times at Kishorn along with many of the other lads - the memories will stay forever. Keep in touch.From Steve "Never knowingly underfed" Sleep

Went up to Kishorn in 1982 to work on the Maureen Deck with Mervyn Jenkins, Brian Lee, and Mark Burns! Followed it offshore and spent many happy years with a fantastic bunch of guys.

There are still a few ex Maureen guys working in the North Sea, I regularly see Brian Gash and John Matthews and we have a great laugh reminiscing about the best platform ever to grace the N Sea!

Roy Bowlerwell is now retired, but I worked with Mark Burns again this year on Elgin Franklin.

Often wonder what happened to some of the Offshore Inspection Team e.g. Sandy Strathearn, Malcolm Rennie and John Craig?

Check out the great Maureen web site put together by Gordon.

Added by Billy Mackay on 20 November 2010.

Hi, All ex Maureen Crew! Special shout of eternal thanks to Mervyn Jenkins (The Merv) to whom I had to convince at an interview at OIS in Aberdeen, I was the right candidate for a job as a Baseline Survey Inspector At Kishorn in 1981. I got the job and later worked offshore on Maureen for several years. Having worked worked on several offshore installations since Maureen one old saying comes to mind. "We never had it so good" Shout out to Billy Mackay, Roy Bowerwell, Chris Bell, Dave Berry, Aquadine Crews, Barry (Admin) Richards (Barry do remember that enormous real Mcoy Haggis I hand carried out to the platform for you?)? Cabin No? on level ? thanks for the memories (especially the contractors wifes visit!!) not forgetting the young hard man scaff I rolled about with in locker room, we were both lucky not to get sacked! I was 21 years old when I started on the Maureen project at Kishorn, Last week I celebrated My 50th! Some people! say I don't look 50? I think that spending many a long day out on the open decks of Maureen or leaning over the handrails looking out to sea might be responsible for holding back one or two wrinkles. Still cant believe she was scrapped so quickly in her potential working life. Best wishes for the future to all the Kishorn Commandoes who worked on Maureen and to everyone I had the pleasure to work with on her (including that young scaff) No hard feelings! Love to hear from you guys again.

I worked on the Maureen in 1985 - the people I remember were Phil Murray from Aberdeen, Phil Totten from Ayrshire, Peter Peel and Peter Cook from Newcastle, and shared a room with Ernie from Aberdeen who used to be a butcher.

Hi, wonder if anyone remembers my late dad Jim McGee from Crieff. He worked as a draughtsman for Howard Doris at Kishorn in the drawing office next to the dry dock between 1980 and 1982/3 and drove a brown Rover? His family including myself moved up with him initially to Kishorn then Lochcarron for two years and I went to Lochcarron Primary - I was about 6 or 7 years old at the time and can remember it so clearly. Remember watching Dallas at the Cinema at the yard every week. Happy times!

I am Martin Fraser, I worked on the Maureen from 1989 to 1996 I was a GA and worked on the helideck. I also worked alongside Chris Bell for quite a few years - I remember when Chris was buidling his own bungalow on the old brickworks in Crook. Chris was known as Mini Mong as opposed to Colin Hardey who was King Mong.

My name Alan Graham, I worked on the Maureen at Kishorn as a tiffy. I think that myself and Peter Tuck from Teesside were the only tiffys directly employed by Howard Doris, (I may be wrong), with many others working for contractors. I will not forget the weather, meal tickets, the Ben Damph and being informed where the police were waiting when driving after a night out. Ended up on the Tog Mor, offshore Cameroon, before ending up doing Maintenance on the Platforms we worked on. Then Transfered to Syria untill Howard Doris went under.

Hi Julie Spencer, I didn't work at Kishorn during the rig days but do now, and I can let you know that Billy MacRae is still here and doing fine. He no longer has his cows but still works his croft, growing tatties for the locals. Another name people will recognise is Jockey Brown, a really good friend of mine is here too. It's been really good to read this blog, all the best to everyone.

Added by John Parker on 24 July 2011.

Hi John, it's so lovely of you to send me the message. Is there any way I can get in touch with Billy, I'd love to talk to him.

I was a 21yr old instrument pipefitter when I started at Kishorn in 1981 working for Watson & Norie I think (or was it Morgan Moore?) I remember well John Fogarty and Willy Koymanns and still dine out on some of the little antics we used to get up to on site like sticking a plastic cup on the top of someone's hard hat with a knob of butter as they exited the canteen at lunchtime and then seeing how long it would take them to notice. Also feeding the shitehawks with individual cheese portions with zebedee springs in them as we climbed back up the rig after lunch - what fun!

Some names I remember: Ricky Bell was my foreman, Jackie McGuire - welder, Rab and Davy Cornwall - brothers from Glasgow, Dave Gray from Teesside like myself, Dave Hartley, Mick Tweddle, Keith Binks - foreman, Ray Gorton (Tojo) from Blackhall, Norman Bell from Hartlepool, Jackie Parker and his mate Mick from Newcastle, Iain Simpson from Caithness way, Ian Sagar form Dewsbury - I bought his Blue Mk4 Cortina off him. I remember the Saturday nights out in Inverness, Nairn, Elgin, Aviemore and Fort William and a massive bar room brawl one Sunday afternoon in Kyle. So many first names only that I can remember now but all the faces have stuck. Great times.

I lived on the camp until Fishwick got me thrown off because he burt my bed with a joint and blamed me. Mick Boyle got me fixed up at the Rock Villa and I had the time of my life staying there. Billy Forbes used to run the place, remember Big Maggie very well also the Bomber (passed on now) and Big Dan and loads of others. If any one knows me please get in touch.

Well what a site to find, my old man worked at Kishorn on the Maureen project, and although gone now, always said it was the best job he was ever engaged on, he loved the crack and being a "mans man" loved everything about " Maureen and Kishorn" his name was Bill Clarke, and I think he worked for Grady Stringer or Jim Taylor. I have just checked his effects, which were left in my care, and there is a wealth of info regarding Maureen, including the original Phillips 66 newsletter covering the tow out, and some pretty spectacular photographs. There is also a booklet outlining the history of Maureen published at the time by CG Doris, it also contains detail about other Doris projects such as Niniain Central and the Ekofisk Tank amongst others.If anybody is interested, and can give me a couple of weeks grace, I am prepared to put a package together for e-mailing, in the hope that the fond memories of Kishorn and Maureen that brought a sparkle to my dads eyes, may live again amongst those of you who will appreciate it most--HIS WORKMATES. All the very best.GC

Hi all you commandoes, I worked in Kishorn from the very start 1975 to 1980 when they were still digging out the dry dock, We brought the first transit van up from London for Fergus and Haynes, myself, Eamonn Diver (a dear friend of mine who passed away 2 months ago) Sean Cribbon (also deceased) and my brother Anthony Mulhern. We slept in the van over night in Carlisle and got nicked by the Police thinking we had nicked the van. It took us 2 full days to get there and it was a far cry away from the bright lights of London but what memories we had. I worked in the steel yard, first we had to set it up, all the cutting and bending machines and the gantry crane. Did anyone remember Pat Stewart, Donegal Danny, the big gentle giant Tony O'Shea, Des Barrett and his brother the fitter for Fergie and of course Mick "The Horse" Boyle. What a great man Mick was and his family. The craic was mighty there and will always have fond memories of the place. The great summer of '76 and driving race to London for our week off. I must dig out some photos i have and put them on.

Hi ya I worked at kishorn 1981-83 on the maureen my name is Jim McCabe welder nick name BJ, helped shout the bingo in the welly bar, remember the shit hoose cabaret on a friday nights some time better than the acts in the welly bar. does anyone remember the time the guy from Greenock fell out the bus traveling home one Christmas?

Added by Jim McCabe (BJ) on 29 December 2011.

Hi Jim, The plater who fell out the bus was George Richardson, I was his foreman in shop 19. It was when the bus was passing Loch Clunnie he went to the toilet at the rear and as the bus took a charp bend it threw him out the window.

Hi everyone, Can anyone remember Jimmy Small (welding foreman) from Kirkaldy in Fife also what ever happened to Margaret Drysdale, she worked in the offices with the NDT Super whose first name was Kenny.

Added by Jimmy Bolder (Welder, 79-84) on 02 January 2012.

Thats right Ian it was Geordie and he was from Port Glasgow

Added by Charlie McCormick on 04 January 2012.

Can any of you remember my Dad - Jim Spencer? He was a foreman and was Irish.

I worked at Kishorn 80-83 came up a boy left a man!still at the plating in Terex working with Mick Clare and Geordie Smith. Happy days got some photos somewhere. When Geordie Richardson fell from the bus I was on my week off - story was page 3 in the Record! I Was pally with his pal from the Port, Mick McCoullough. Does anyone remember George frea Embra? He'd cause bother in an empty hoose!

Added by Jimmy Allan from Motherwell on 05 January 2012.

Have enjoyed reading all the antics you got up to. My son kept all the family in stitches. But no more. The light of my life, HARRY BOYCE passed away, 14th May last year, but it seems like yesterday. At one time he spoke a lot of a red haired young man, from Methil, also a man Jimmy Traquaire from GLASGOW. He worked with them in Gabon. I'm 77 this is my excuse, for bad typing.

Howdy lads and lassies, what a great site to find. I worked at Hunterston from Sep 79 till Aug 82, shortly before Maureen was floated. I was an Expat from the US, and absolutely had a great time. I was 25, and lived in Kilwinning most of the time I was there. Glad to see Maureen served her purpose, but hate that she was dismantled and scrapped. My oldest daughter, who is now 30, was born in Queen Mother hospital in Glasgow. Cheers.

This is a truly amazing site! I was another American expat and I sure remember you, Frank!I was just cruising the net looking for info on the rig we built in Hunterston, and lo and behold there is another world of folks who helped build and operate that amazing structure. I had just jmet up with our company's photographer Jeff Graves, who visited Scotland four times from Chicago and took all the photos for the company magazine and reports. I hadn't seen him in over 20 years - bet many of you can relate to that.I'm in Boston and he's in Florida. Where are you now, Frank?As an American, I gotta say I came very close to becoming Scottish over my 3 years in paradise. I met and married a lovely Scottish lass soon into my stay and learned to eat, drink and say everything Scottish. Still do. Slange Vah to all!

My name is Paul Tanner I worked on the Maureen platform for four and a half years, as one of the painters. Still to this day after 30 years working offshore the best rig I've worked on, the guy's were just so friendly and the management as well - it really was one big happy family.

My supervisor was Keith Nixon, still the best gaffer I've worked under, and I supervise my guys the way Keith supervised me. Keith's back to back was Jimmy Parker. Jimmy's from the same town as me (South Shields) seen Jimmy about 18 mths ago just out of hospital he was, not seen him since but I know where he drinks, I'll tell him about this web-site.

Ron Ali he's from Shields as well, I think ron passed away.as I usually used to see him a lot, but not for a few years now, would like to know how some of the boy's are doing i'll run some names by, if you know how they are please post something: Brummie, the yak, peter peel snr, peter peel jrn, ron cuthbert, paul boyer, ian peacock, mervyn jenkins, francis medic, chriss bell welder, mark burns, bill grainger, ronnie stuward and the guy's from aquadine(cleanest wellheads in the north sea)trying to remember the scaff's I think davy jess was one, his brother played football for Aberdeed.i also still have a copy of the only fools and horses, made for phillips about "The Lady in Waiting" a licsence to drill. would be great if some of the old school got meet up again, happy days on a very happy rig,

Great to see this site after all these years! Paul Mortimer here, worked on leg 3 at Hunterston. English was my nick name, had that written on my safety hat, English but as a local, lived in West Kilbride. Texas Tam was the head guy.I finished up falling 26 ft inside one of the legs, in a coma for 3 days! Will always remember working with a great bunch, loved the Scottish humour!

Added by Paul Mortimer on 13 June 2012.

its paul mortimer once again, I forgot to say in my last message, I would like thank all the people involved that rescued me after my fall from inside the leg at hunterston back in 83.i was told it took 3 hours to get me out and off to hospital, and I never got to say thanks... nows my chance... thankyou!!

Added by Paul Mortimer on 14 June 2012.

Hi, my dad John Beattie worked on the platform when it was in Kishorn. He was a heating engineer/welder. Does anyone out there remember him?

Hi Guys trying to get in touch with a mate from the Maureen Mark Thompson from Thornaby on Tees. He was a Tiffy any info would be great. My name's Callum MacDonald but was known as Mac I was on the Maureen for 5 glorious years from 91 till 96 as the HVAC tech got the handle "HVAC MAC" remember Chris Bell, Merv, King Mong, Terry Priest, Gazza, Peter Peel junior & senior, shared a room with Peter Haswell great bunch of guys best rig I have ever been on.reading this has brought back lots of good memories. Hope youre all doing well.

Hello Les Peacock, Yes mate I do remember you, did you have a Rover as well during the "good days", remember one of our trips to Aviemore, on our way back we stopped in Inverness on the sunday night and "wee Davy Ballbag" swam the river, fags in his mouth and then turned up in the Cally soaking wet looking for a beer, wild, mad and fun days they were.

Added by Jim Bolder on 05 October 2012.

Hi, Jim (Jim Bolder), great to hear from you. No Rover? Mk11 Escort then Capri. Have you had a look at the pics on the sister site, Scotland's Rig Yards, I've posted, can you name any? What a place it was to work, we worked hard and played harder, great to hear from you again.

Good to hear from old mate Mulhern more commandos of the seventies John Quinn, Owen and Danny McFadden Dave Ullathorn Martin and Mick Neary Jimmy from Buckie Roy Cummins the McGraths from the isles Eamon Doherty Roger Murray the Legend Tony O Shea and many more all with a story to tell. Does any one recall the parties in fergies place on sat nights and the scramble to work on sun morning . Great times great blokes

I was a young engineer (nav arch) on the Brown & Root Graduate Training Scheme.I was in Holland for the outfit of the H114 barge and was on the tow from Holland to the yard. On site was on weight control, inclining test and deck mating.Was great experience at start of my career.Gave up oil and gas in 2001, yacht surveying pays the bills now!Somehwere I will have lots of photos.Best to all.

I worked as a diver at Kishorn briefly in '83. Have fond memories of the people, job and the area. Left once the topsides were mated and the tow-out started. Fortunate enough to be on the job again when the Maureen was sank on location in the North Sea and had a season's work as the hook up started. We were always told it could be re-floated once it's production life ended. I for one never thought it would (or could!) be done. However a real credit to the engineers and workers who built her that she was brought up and recycled, incredible! Anyway thanks to all and .........It'd be good to do it all again?

Added by Tony Whiteley on 06 February 2013.

Hi All , I work in Kishorn back 81-83 I was a welder on the Muareen, I was known as BJ, that place was an education and an eye opener. Back then I was 23 and wet behind the ears, what I learnt up there was a amazing. Does anyone remember the time the guy fell out the bus window on the way to Glasgow? I still dine out on that story!!

Added by Jim McCabe on 25 April 2014.

Yes Jim that was George Richardson from Greenock. I was his foreman in shop 19.

I was paint supervisor at kishorn 1980 to 1983 but also worked with howard doris Greenock and Tyneside where they went bust a lot of names on here I stiil remember the dummy in the boiler suit was first used in the paint shed had jacky Borland up the pole

Just spent an hour reminiscing all these stories.Maureen was definitely one of a kind. I recognise many of the names from the past, Chris Bell, Status Quo, Bingo Billy, Keith Nixon and all the Rigblast guys and yes it did have the cleanest wellhead area in the North Sea! I`m working with Brian Gash here on the Elgin PUQ and see Billy McKay from time to time. Sadly, Martin Fraser, Gordon Rounsley and Ronnie Barker are no longer with us but it`s been a good few years since we were all on Maureen. Good employer, good platform and most of all fond memories of a great bunch of blokes.

Was the wee Joe you are talking about Joe McCulloch from Port Glasgow by any chance Gary Brown? If so I only found out a Cpl of months ago that he died about 2 years ago I have been out of the Port for about 17 years and lost touch with all the travelling team.I was a welder in Kishorn at the time Geordie Richardson fell out the bus was talking to Joe in the canteen just before they left and he said I have to keep an eye on Geordie as he had a few too many by then. He really looked after him lol.

If is the one with his head on it for the Ninian Central it could become valuable if he dosen't become king as there will be few medalions with his head on it. The other one cast was for the Maureen High deck with a pictute of thr dry dock on the other side from 1983.

Added by Ian Maclean on 27 May 2015.

Hello great to find this site . Wondering if any of you remember Charlie Fergie ) have any pictures or stories fromBack in the Kishorn day ?thankyou

Fond memories (working for S.P.E.L.) staying on-site on 'B' shift and working as a welder on this structure from mid 1980 & throughout 1981 - particularly on the heli-deck and suspended from scaffolding under the decking welding structural sections etc. Happy days with welder Tam who moved from Glasgow to Banchory, plater Jim McClairemont who I saw whilst on a stag night in Scarborough some years later, and- was it welder big Paul Quinn? from Dewsbury who I used to give a lift to when travelling home to Hull? Also, Barry who lived in Hull (Garden Village?). Do you remember lads we used to have weekends away and took Fort William, Nairn, Aviemore and Strathpeffer by storm? And Tam with his guitar getting us a reduced price for our second stay at the Highland Hotel in Inverness !And what about the blizzard when we had to set off walking back from the pub in Loch Carron after closing time when they wouldn't let us stay after our lift didn't turn up and we only got picked up on the home straight when we got round the site side of the loch- Was we glad to see the headlights of that transit van- the coldest night ever in my life!

To any ‘Kishorn Commando’s’, I have been trying to trace some of my Brother John’s steps online, he had so many fond memories of Kishorn. I never knew the antics he’d got up to, until I found his comments on this page: lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/back-to-kishorn, sadly John passed away recently, the comments on there have made me laugh, I will be sure to pass them on. Thank you to all who shared his memories. Regards Madeleine

KILBRIDE – JOHN OWEN, December 26, 2015. Peacefully at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd aged 66 years of Llandudno and formerly of Widnes. Beloved husband of Carol and a much loved Brother and Uncle. Funeral service takes place on Monday, 18th January 2016 at St. Hilary’s Church, Llanrhos at 11.15am, followed by interment at Llanrhos Lawn Cemetery. Family flowers only by request but donations in memory of John can be made to Ward 9 Ysbyty Glan Clywd and will be gratefully received c/o Tom Owen and Son Funeral Directors, 11 Bodhyfryd Road, Llandudno, Conwy LL30 2DT tel : 01492 860 280.

Great memories - Im Laurence Howell (Lorry) and tcoms tech on Maureen offshore from 85-88 back to back Mike Madden. Good to catch up with the comings and goings and glad to see so many names I recognize, but sad to see we have lost quite a few to time. As Mike would have said - Im still holding the Bluff card and working for the same company here based in Anchorage after wandering the world in Ops and Capital projects after 31 years. Maureen was a steep learning curve for me but a wonderful team and a lot of leg pulling from the Tynesiders and all areas North and South of there.

Just came across this site, wow what a blast from the past, I worked there as a young pipefitter, I remember Jim bolder, the Conway twins from Newcastle, ozzy Williams from north Wales, terry maguire Newcastle, our gf was called Barry pendleton great memories of a great bunch of guys

Hey Tam Whitelaw. I came across this by accident and scrolled down to see if I knew anybody posting. You and I worked as a pair on more than one occasion in my two years on the Maureen. I still have a photo of you somewhere in my attic.

I know what you mean about dining out on the stories. I still see Larry Sweeney and Willie Gillaney from time to time and the old stories always get retold.

Hope life's treating you well. I'm still working, in Qatar, but expect to retire next year.

Does anyone remember abbot and Costello collecting dishes in the main eating area 1977 I remember kelvin /sue from Australia also Monica from Ireland and the millionaires to be flora Frazier who's father owned harrods at the time and John carhill if your there 😀

Hi, my name is Marc Robinson, I worked for Howard Doris as a surveyor from 1979 till 1983, Maureen deck, shop 19, I was on site in the red bloc, I do remember the burgers who worked with me, Steve, Angus, Neil, Peter, Duncan, Rodger, John, Jack, Richard Reynold....And others...

Kishorn Commando Mick Boyle still going strong 81 and comes to work everyday running his Uk Top 10 Concrete Frame business MPB Structures Ltd he has a pint with fellow commando Lewis Parker most Friday night's.

I worked for Philips as Resident Inspector in Germany looking at the steel plates for the legs, superstructure, topsides etc. also the Fire Fighting system Valves and the towing cables plus connections. I started off alone but after a while a squad of Inspectors came to Germany to check weldings etc of various items. We were all promised a trip up to Scotland for the float-out but it never happened. Time has taken most of the other Inspectors, I retired and moved to the USA because the UK has been ruined.

Hiya Guys, just came across the page, very interesting.Can anyone give me some details, when did the job start and Finnish...... and when was the big strike that locked out the guys from the yard and didn’t some of the Union guys not get asked back in so then lost there job, Cheers for any info that comes along.

Hiya Guys, just came across the page, very interesting.Can anyone give me some details, when did the job start and Finnish...... and when was the big strike that locked out the guys from the yard and didn’t some of the Union guys not get asked back in so then lost there job, Cheers for any info that comes along.

The strike you mention was 1981 it was supposedly for the sacking of a dude who had gone back to his room saying he was unwell it transpired later he had wet the bed the previous night (a sackable offence) The job (Maureen Alpha) started in 1980 and sailed away in 1982 the platform started production in in 1983 and ceased production in 1999 and was scrapped in Norway in about 2003

Added by Derek on 15 June 2018.

Hi Folks, I worked in Kishorn from August 1975 until October 1976 on the Ninian Central platform. I got sacked then as just before I was on leave and the yard went on strike and I was told not to come back when I was due as there was a picket on the gate and no one was allowed in. The following Saturday I got a phone call which told me to be there by 8 o clock on Monday night. I live on the Island of Mull and the only way for me to get there at that time was by ferry to Oban and then train to Glasgow on to Inverness. I then had to hire a taxi from Inverness To Kishorn and then to be told because I was five minutes late I was sacked and I had ten minutes to empty my room and locker. I got the taxi back to Inverness and stayed the night there and then traveled home the next two days. I was a member of the union but they told me I wasn't even though I had payslips with my union deductions on them. I ended up taking them to court and won my case. When I first went there I started on the dock gates and then got transfered to the platform ending up as a concrete finisher at sea. There was a major storm when we were out there and a barge with a compresser and a brand new Andes crane and also a batching plant on sunk and as far as I know it was left there as it was going to cost to much to raise.